Conserving Philippe Starck’s W.W. Stool: A Study in Iconic Design

Philippe Starck (French, b. 1949) is one of the most influential and innovative designers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with a diverse portfolio that spans everything from innovative toothbrushes to Olympic medals and luxury yachts. Starck’s career began at an early age, when he founded an inflatable furniture company at just 19 years old. He gained fame in the late seventies and early eighties with his nightclub and café interiors in Paris. Recently, we had the opportunity to conserve an example of one of his most iconic pieces: the W.W. Stool, produced in Germany by Vitra, a design so significant that it graced the cover of Taschen’s 1991 monograph, Starck.

Starck’s influence extends beyond individual works to shaping the landscape of contemporary design. His creations span a wide range of fields, from architecture and interior design to furniture and product design. The W.W. Stool is an excellent example of his blend of functionality and artistic sensibility: originally designed for German director Wim Wenders — who requested a stool that would allow him to stand while working — the piece is both a work of art and a functional design, with legs resembling the roots of a plant. Its clean lines and modern aesthetic reflect Starck's philosophy of industrial design by emphasizing simplicity while still offering a unique artistic flair.

**© Miro Zagnoli** for the Vitra Design Museum, Germany

When a W.W. Stool came into our care for conservation, our team was eager to begin the treatment. Upon examination, we found that the stool, made of cast aluminum and coated with a mint green satin finish, was covered in a layer of grime with numerous losses across its surface. The interior of the left leg had a large abrasion, and the left rear leg had a significant loss, exposing the base metal. There were multiple abrasions to the right leg and, the back of the seat had an eraser-sized loss, with a small loss at the right edge of the seat. A small accretion was present on the left face of the seat, and there were abrasions on the front leg. The tip of the foot peg also showed a large loss, exposing the base aluminum.

BEFORE TREATMENT:

The conservation process began with photographing the stool for in-house documentation, both before and after treatment. We carefully surface cleaned the stool using the appropriate conservation methods and materials. The losses were filled and inpainted as best as possible, following the proper conservation techniques, and the abrasions were minimized. The stool was restored to its original condition, and upon completion, our client was thrilled with the results:

I have loved P. Starck’s design work for years and was so happy to purchase the ‘impossible to find’ piece last year. It had damage when I received it, and now it’s perfect!

AFTER TREATMENT:

Starck’s influence on modern design has shaped a generation of designers and continues to resonate today, particularly through his focus on user experience, innovation, and sustainability. The W.W. Stool, with its blend of practicality and artistic expression, embodies Starck’s design philosophy and remains a key example of his enduring legacy.